I have an S-Video to SCART adaptor which I use to connect my laptop to a standard TV. The trouble is that the image is almost Black and White, the contrast is so bad. Why is this? Does anyone have any idea how to improve the contrast? I've tried the laptop settings, but they apply globally to all video outputs (incl the screen).

Help would be appreciated.



Peter

Hi Peter
It might me the PAL NTSC settings. I had the same problems on a laptop I couldnt find a solution in windows. But I found a setting in the BIOS screen which changed the signal between NTSC and PAL.

Hope Helps

raicttec

If its not the PAL/NTSC option then you may wish to look into this...

On some TV's you have to tell it that its an S-Video input, otherwise it'll look at just the chroma (B/W) component of the Svid signal and give you a black and white image. This is often the case with TV;s with lots and lots of inputs.

Ah, that sounds more likely. I've tried changing the NTSC / PAL settings - my Laptops graphics card (an ATI one) allows you to switch the output between all of the PAL settings, and a couple of NTSC ones. I've tried the input on a couple of TVs, but not seen an S-video option yet. Ah well... Black and White's better than nothing.

it does occur to me that some videos have a y/c input on the front panel so you can plug a high band camcorder in - if your's has then you can use this to convert the y/c into something your tv can demod. might have to buy a 4pin to 4pin cable, but might be worth looking into

This is quite a common problem when connecting modern laptops which have S Video outputs to other video kit. What is sounds like is that you are only seeing the Y part of the S Video signal.

Most scart cables which have an S Video plug on the other end are for supplying the Y/C signal to the device, rather than the composite signal most domestic kit expects (unless of course your device is expecting a Y/C signal in which case you either need to select the Y/C input or set up the menu setting to expect Y/C not composite).

What you need is some sort of adaptor to actually convert the signal type from Y/C to composite, and then a standard scart breakout cable. I have had a lot of sucess with a little adaptor from CPCwhich is just a small passive device that merges the Y and C together. The part number is av04560. They have become a vital part of my box of video adaptors!

Editted to remove surplus "not" from the wrong place!

On my TV if I have to press the button for lets say "AV2" repeatedly until I get the correct mode.
There is "AV2" for SCART
There is "AV2RGB" For RGB/ SCART-RGB
There is "AV2-S" For S-Video or Scart S-Video input.

If I am using S-Vid and only select the SCART then I get a black and white grany picture.

Hope this helps, what manufacturer is your TV?
Ad does the SCART socket you are using support S-Video?

The TV is a cheapo one from ASDA (£89.99 for a TV/DVD - not bad!) - it has very few settings. Forgive me for being a student

On a related question...

my new laptop also has a video out connector - it's a 7-pin one.

I've found the pin-out which says that it is an extension of the 4-pin S-Video connector, ie it has Y and C and the 2 grounds in the same place but also has composite video on one of the extra pins.

Anyone know where to get an adaptor because so far my searches have drawn a blank?

Is it a Sony laptop by any chance? I've heard of them doing funny things with video out.

TO PETER :
Perhaps your TV doesn't have the S-Video compatability for the scart? Does it say it does in the manual?

TO BRIAN :
I think, although not sure, that you may be looking at the Generic TV out connector found on some graphics cards, you may be able to find the correct conversion cable for it at an electronics retailer, such as Maplin etc...

Hi Peter,

nope, it's from Novatech, basically a generic job.

Hi iZian,

I had a poke around a Maplin store and their website but nothing turned up. I couldn't even find anyone selling 7-pin connectors, they jumped from 6 to 8 ways.

However, I think I found what I wanted this evening on e-bay; I've bought a couple to try.

Thanks

Brian

A lot of PC graphic cards will use a mini-din type connector with more than four pins. 7 sounds likely. This combines both Y, C and Composite signals, along with a couple of control pins, to tell the card what you've connected. Then you get a little adaptor to give you either Svid or composite, as you require. You've got two solutions - find the adaptors, which definatly are sold or buy the connectors and make the adaptor yourself by looking at the output with an ocsilliscope to determine which pin is which (although pinouts will be around on the net)

Peter, Are you SURE that your laptop outputs Svid and not Composite?

I had this problem, I created a small adapter to which joins the svideo pins to composite..

Y-ground------------------+
+---------- RCA/composite ground
C-ground------------------+

Y-------------------------+
+--------- RCA/composite video
C------------||-----------+
470pF

It's all on this website...

http://www.hut.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuit...deo2cvideo.html

--
Regards
Aaron

This is basically what they adaptor that I refered to from CPC earlier in the post does. At under a couple of quid I've found it easier to tuck these on the end of an order than have to worry about making my own.



As far as Peter's problem goes it deffinately sounds like a case of TV excepting composite, not S Video, so only recieving the Y (luminance - eg black and white) component of the signal.

Thanks guys. I think i'll invest in one of those adaptors. Now just got to find some more stuff to order from CPC, to make the delivery charge worthwhile.

I've bought these from Maplins in the past. (My life changed forever when they opened a branch of Maplins 3 minutes walk from the theatre ;-) )

lucky sod, the nearest one to me is in e. croydon - cpc it is.

update on getting video out of my laptop...

the adaptor leads I bought on e-bay turned up and they work. They're just a 7-pin to phono socket with about 3 inches of cable. Since my laptop gives out composite video on the 'extra' pins all I needed to do was get at them.

There are loads of them for sale on ebay still.

like these

note however that these don't make composite video if you haven't got it.

yeah looks exactly like the output on my radeon 9200, I had a lead bundled in with it, to do exactly what your doing now, thing is, it will only work with that particular card, dunno why it wont work with my laptop with the same socket and pinout and ati card though, very weird

hmmm... shouldnt there have been one bundled with your laptop, coz I am sure I also got one with my laptop when I bought it...

Matt.

Yeah, one came with my ATI too, perhaps your laptop isn't configured correctly as my cable from ATI works with my old PC's NVIDIA.
Check the graphics drivers are U2Date and the settings in the manufacturers control panel for the display. (It may seem obvious but try the function key + the screen display switch button on the keyboard too )
Not all manufacturers are as generous as ATI, my friend.

in my mind ati are stingy, the old nvidia I had (well I think it was) at least came with a dvi to vga adapter, mind you I did pay about £15 for this 9200, though aint much use when your mobo blows up ...

me: edit, removed o/t coz me knows

I got one of those S-Video to Composite convertors from CPC as they had them on offer, so does anyone have any idea why I get a nice full colour signal when connected to a new television/DVD combi from my laptop, but when I connect to a really old television I get a blurry black and white signal. It's something to do with the laptop as the convertor works fine using the S-Video out from the new TV/DVD combi. Could it be a refresh rate issue or something?

Thanks in advance

PN

Edit: Problem solved, it seems the graphics card had defaulted back to an NTSC mode, which the old TV can't cope with but the new one can, everything is now changed and working again.